Rhong Chang, a donkey slaughterhouse operating in Assela Town, Oromia Regional State, has earned 190,000 dollars from the export of donkey meat to markets in East Asia over the past two months. The Chinese-owned abattoir processes aged and male donkeys, paying over 2,000 Br per head. It has thus far managed to export 168tn of meat, slaughtering nearly 6,000 donkeys since it kicked off operations five months ago. Export was delayed due to a lack of refrigerated containers. The controversial concept of abattoirs processing donkeys first set foot in Ethiopia in 2012, after Shandong Dong obtained a license from the Ethiopian Investment Commission to establish a slaughterhouse in Bishoftu. Five years later, the company began operations and exported 200,000 dollars worth of donkey meat and hides before the Bishoftu City Administration shut it down.